Social services have welcomed two additional payments for pensioners revealed in this week's federal budget, but have warned one-off payments will not solve long-term struggles.
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Two $250 payments will be given to people on the age pension, disability support pension and carer payment, one in December and one in March.
Salvation Army Ballarat team leader John Clonan said people would benefit from the additional cash injection leading up to Christmas, but many would continue to struggle to meet every day financial obligations.
"The pension is being supplemented by two $250 stimulus benefits, but it is not addressing the ongoing day-to-day, week-to-week reality of increasing food costs, utility bills and is not addressing all other associated expenditure in pensioners' lives," he said
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The aged pension is usually raised on March 20 and September 20 each year in line with Consumer Price Index and a cost of living measure for pension households.
But it did not increase through indexation for the first time in 23 years this September, because the government said the indices used to adjust the payments had declined.
Ballarat pensioner Sandra Roberts told The Courier last week even a small increase of a few dollars a fortnight would make a difference to older people living week-to-week on 'tough' budgets.
Ballarat City Senior Citizens Club president Geoff Pitt said the pension covered most basic costs of living, but not the cost of keeping the household going.
"The one-off payments will be a great help no matter what, any drop of water in the ocean is quite welcome," he said.
"But the power bills have gone up, amenities are all going up. If something extra goes wrong like a fridge or a washing machine breaks down you will be battling to get it."
Mr Clonan said six to 10 per cent of clients presenting for food relief to Salvation Army Ballarat were on an aged pension or carers pension payment.
"We also have quite a number of people in that category who present here for takeaway meals at present," he said.
Canadian pensioner Robert rides his electric scooter to the Salvation Army Ballarat Community Church to pick up a takeaway meal four days a week.
The 77-year-old said the pension was enough to keep him going, but receiving the meals helped 'a lot'.
"I hardly cook much at all now. That helps me pay the bills. The upkeep of the house is a lot," he said.
"The Salvos do a fantastic job. It is all homecooked, it is beautiful.
"It is a good social time going down there. I catch up with the people I know and have a bit of a yarn."
Council of the Ageing Australia chief executive Ian Yates said pensioners would be pleased about the additional payments.
"It is a positive response by government to our strong lobbying for additional help to pensioners at a time that the indexation formula did not deliver an increase in the pension rate," he said.
Aged pensioners receive a maximum of $944.30 a fortnight or $1423.60 for couples.